Can you do me a HUGE favor.....?

Helloooooooooooo everyone!!!

How are you doing on this fine December day?

I'm doing amazing! This was the first weekday morning in a very long time that i didn't have work! How did I spend my free morning/afternoon? I baked, I blogged, I ate, I listening to groovy music (Drake, Florence and the Machine, Miike Snow, St. Vincent, Two Door Cinema Club, The XX, Adele, Michael Buble, Paramore, etc.), I danced to my groovy tunes, I watched a couple of my favorite movies, I danced a little bit more......yep. When I'm home alone I pretty much just dance about and make a fool of myself because no one is around.....well....I guess i do that all of the time lol.

What was this mornings culinary creation you ask? :

Delicious Mini Sugar Donut Muffins of course!! Yummmmmm.

Ginger says "Before we begin would you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do something for little ol Jenna?"

(How can you say no to this little face?)

If you do this - I will never ask you to do another thing ever again.....unless i think of a really good favor I might need in the future lol. And if you don't do this....I hope you are thoroughly disappointed in yourself lol.

Would you please fill out a QUICK 10 question survey on my behalf? I'd really like to have a little bit of feedback from my readers - and seeing as NONE of you comment (shame shame shame on you) for whatever reason, I've decided to make a survey for you to quickly fill out! Just click on the link below. I promise it will only take a few minutes - I'd really really really appreciate it!!!!!

Click here to take survey

WAIT WAIT WAIT.

You didn't fill out the survey did you!?!?

You were just going to pass it up and continue on to today's post weren't you?

Back it up mister - back it right up!!!!

You better click on that link above RIGHT NOW.

Ok....i'm done baggering you now.

Or am I???

BUM BUM BUMMMMMMM

No - I'm really done lol.

Last night I watched one of my all time favorite movies………

“When Harry Met Sally” thinking about how Billy Crystal and Meg Ryans chemistry is absolutely undeniable. UNDENIABLE I TELL YOU! Favorite quote of the movie? “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” What an amazing movie. If you’ve never seen it I suggest you do, because you’re missing out on a vital piece of life! You haven’t lived til you watch this movie….This is the scene the movie is best known for:

::For mature audiences only….I don’t know why I feel the need to say that…but I do lol::

Classic.

I vow to one day marry a man who…..

Treats me just as good (if not better) than the way Jimmy Stewarts character “George Bailey” treats his wife, portrayed by Donna Reed, in one of the greatest films of all time “It’s a Wonderful Life” (minus the parts where he goes mad and starts freaking out on everyone lol). If you’ve never seen this movie…then you’re out of your mind! It’s so amazing! Such a classic. I cry every single time I watch this movie – it’s just so wonderful.

I will not settle for anything less than a George Bailey kind of man.

And that’s that.

(This next little segment is for those of you who are weight conscious/calorie counters this season – so for those of you who aren’t – you are free to move on to the next topic!)

Tis the season to count calories……

Am I right, or am I right? I know I’m right lol.

Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL for getting into shape, taking care of your body, and giving it the proper nourishment it needs through delicious delights and a healthy dose of exercise a few days a week. BUTTTTT Obsessively dieting/eating/oh so carefully watching what you eat is 1. Not fun. 2. Not worth it (especially this time of year) and 3. Abuse not only to your body, but to your mind as well.

So for all of you stressed out beyond belief dieters out there… STOP IT. Trust me, I was once the calorie-counting champion of the Midwest. Yes, this little curly head knew the nutritional information of EVERY (and when I say every I mean every) single thing she ate. I still remember the calorie and fat contents of all of the things I eat in my house, just because I messed with my mind for so long. I.E. - Total cereal, peanut butter, raisins, dried apricots, nuts, black beans, apples, bananas, whole wheat toast, oatmeal, honey, eggs blocks of dark chocolate, potatoes, cheese, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, veggie patties….I know the nutritional information to all of these things still.

Why all this weight talk?

I thought I would just shed a little light on the “weight” situation before I begin to blog about a plethora of wonderful holiday delights that might make my more body conscious readers cringe. So for those of you who find yourself in this little predicament - I know where you’re coming from, and I understand the want/need to exercise to feel better about yourself, and all of that mumbo jumbo – but seriously….just be happy to be alive this holiday! Give yourself a break, and don’t focus on your weight as much.

Want to see the construction process of a MASSIVE Barbie cake???

Lucky for you - a coworker, Courtney, and I made two in one day last week, and I documented the process for this very occasion!! I cut, iced, and sprayed the cakes, and Courtney made them beautiful. I told Courtney i was going to take credit for the both Barbie cakes in their entirety on my blog....but I just can't lie lol. Courtney is an amazing amazing cake decorator, Im sub par lol.

Here you go:

I think the cakes turned out amazing! The purple one was my favorite :)

My sister would describe me as conceited…..

But I find nothing wrong with liking myself. Everyone should like himself or herself! The definition of conceited is : characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; an egotistical disregard of others etc.

I do not have a false sense of pride, an exaggerated sense of self-importance, or an egotistical regard of others. I just like myself that’s all! Lol. I watched a movie recently that I fell in love with called “Love and other drugs” starring Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal (I know, I’m such a girl lol). One particular scene in the movie really stood out to me. In the aforementioned scene Annes character asks Jakes character to tell her 4 (err 5?) traits he likes (or finds good) about himself. And he couldn’t name one! Not even one!

To me…that is so sad. To not be able to list a single thing that you like about yourself? I know I’m a flawed person, and I can be a real downer sometimes, but I know I have a lot of great qualities to offer. After viewing the movie I made a mental list of five qualities I like about myself, and here it is:

1. I’m hilarious - Now I’m not sure and I don’t care whether not anyone else agrees, but I crack myself up lol.

2. I’m a great listener (when I’m not hogging the conversation with my constantly moving mouth) and I think I give out pretty stellar advice to my friends.

3. I think I’m a pretty personable gal.

4. I’m a very good baker. Cookies, pies, cakes, etc. – I’ve never heard a single complaint about my baked goods, only positive feedback (with the exception of my father, but he’s hard to please so I take his culinary opinion with a grain of salt lol) But here’s a thought - perhaps I’m a terrible baker and I just don’t know it because everyone else is too polite to tell me different!?!? Noooo….that can’t be it lol ;)

5. I am a very honest person. This one is a burden and a blessing. Honesty comes in handy a majority of the time, but it is somewhat frowned upon by people who do not want to hear the truth. Either way – I tend to tell it how I see it. No surprises here, just the truth.

What are 5 qualities you like about yourself? If you can’t name 5, build up some better self esteen will ya!?!?!?!?!

I AM OFFICIALLY A CULINARY GRADUATE!!!

WOOOOOO!!!! YAAAAAAYYYYYY CHEF JENNA!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!! YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!

I recently learned, thanks to my good friend/chef Anthony, that anyone can call themselves a chef (I feel so stupid for not knowing that, NO DUH JENNA) and that I must become a certified culinarian through the ACF (aka American Culinary Federation).

I am currently in the process of becoming a "Certified Culinarian" First step was becoming a member of the ACF. Now i'm just waiting for my graduation certificate, my transcripts, and my ACF membership card in the mail, so I can fill out a form - fax it into the ACF - and THEN become a "certified culinarian". Being a culinarian is WAY more official than just calling yourself a chef ;) The whole process is super confusing, but I feel like that's because I'm putting way too much thought into it lol.

So what is my next move? Moving from Ohio to Orlando Florida in the second week of January. Then what? Hmm.....great question lol. I'll have to get back to you when I have the slightest of ideas haha.

I was reminiscing on days of culinary school past, and here are a few memorable ones - in photograph form:

I hope each and every one of you have an amazing weekend! For those of you who are weathering the cold December weather - bundle up and make some chili!

Chili is perfect on chilly December day like these :)

Let us begin....

[[Today’s music]]

(1) ADELE – ROLLING IN THE DEEP

I love love love Adeles bluesy voice.

She is beautiful, and talented, and UHMAYZINGGGG.

This song is mighty catchy, and oh so groovy....this lady speaks the truth.

(2) THE XX – VCR

A good friend recently got me into this band – and there is just one thing I have to say…..Where has the XX been all my life?!?!? Amazing. Just amazing. This is the kind of music that makes me happy to be alive....

(3)THE XX Remix of NOTORIOUS B.I.G.'S JUICY

This......is BRILLIANT

(4) LYKKE LI – POSSIBILITY

This song is lovely and so is she.

[[Today’s restaurant]]

BEN’S CHILI BOWL – WASHINGTON

Anthony Bourdain - Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C. - The funniest bloopers are right here

[[Today's blog findings]]

While going through my daily "blog check" (which is where I peruse through the many blogs I follow) today I came across a lot of pictures that I find interesting, funny, cool, beautiful, and/or wonderful in one way or another:

[[Today's kitchen gadgets]]

(1) MOTORIZED ICE CREAM CONE

(2) PIZZA FORK

(3) PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSIBLE DISHRACK

[[Today's news]]

(1) YO-YO DIETING COULD HAVE LASTING IMPLICATIONS

"The unhealthful but popular practice of yo-yo dieting may have serious ramifications on the body, a study finds, which may make those who eat this way more vulnerable to packing on the pounds.

In the study, released Tuesday in the Journal of Neuroscience, mice were randomly assigned to a calorie-restricted diet, in which they ate 75% of the average amount of calories designed to produce a 10% to 15% weight loss, or to a regular diet with no such restrictions.

Under stressful situations the dieting mice had escalated amounts of the stress hormone corticosterone, and exhibited symptoms of depression. There was a transformation in the DNA of the mice as well&--genes that control eating and stress had changed, and those changes remained after the mice ate enough to go back to their normal, higher weights.

While under stressful circumstances the dieting mice ate more fatty foods than mice that had not dieted. "These results suggest that dieting not only increases stress, making successful dieting more difficult, but that it may actually 'reprogram' how the brain responds to future stress and emotional drives for food," said study co-author Tracy Bale of the University of Pennsylvania, in a news release."

Yo-yo dieting could have lasting implications, a study finds - latimes.com

(2) MORE MUPPETS? THE NEW 'SUPERFOODS' WANT KIDS TO EAT HEALTHY

"Everyone knows that the average kid's favorite food is generally not green and reminiscent of a tiny tree. But that could change, if the Muppets have anything to do with it — and they might. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit associated with Sesame Street, is rolling out four new Muppets — a banana, low-fat cheese, a whole wheat bun and a stalk of broccoli — as part of a national initiative to support families who don't have easy access to nutritious food.

The new Muppets, dubbed the “Superfoods,” make their debut Dec. 8 on Sesame Street in a clip that emphasizes healthy snacks and the importance of eating breakfast and dining together as a family. In the show, Elmo decides to try a new food more than once. What is that food? Does the furry, red icon like it? Tune in to find out."

Want to read more?

More Muppets? The New ‘Superfoods’ Want Kids to Eat Healthy – TIME Healthland

(3) POST-FEAST WEIGHT GAIN ISN'T AS BAD AS YOU THINK

If you're like many Americans, you're going to gain some weight over the holidays. But you may not gain as much as you think.

"People tend to gain maybe three-quarters of a pound to a pound over the holiday period," says Roger Cone, chairman of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

He says our brains keep a tight rein on our weight. "It's just like the thermostat in your house," Cone says. If your weight goes up past the set point on the thermostat, your brain tries to slow down your food intake and tells you to start burning calories so you'll lose weight.

It's not a perfect system, and that's why we might put on an extra pound or so at the holiday. But taking off a sudden smallish increase in weight isn't all that difficult, especially when your brain is telling you it's the right thing to do.

Cone says the problem with obesity in this country isn't caused by overeating at the holidays.

"People have overeaten at Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Eve prior to the obesity epidemic," he says.

Want to read more?

Post-Feast Weight Gain Isn't As Bad As You Think : NPR

[[Today’s random]]

(1)HOMEMADE PVC PIPE INSTRUMENT MEDLEY

This kid is absolutely amazing. He tried out for both the Blue Man Group and America’s Got Talent – unfortunately he didn’t make either.

Songs included in this awesome medley: Office Theme Song, Linus and Lucy, Tetris Theme, Mario Bros. Theme, Bad Romance, Crazy Train, The Final Countdown and more

(2) BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BEST HOLIDAY WINDOWS

(3) NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

[[Today’s food clip]]

(1) CHEESECAKE COOKIES

(2) NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE RECIPE – SUNSHINE CHEESECAKE

(3) FOOD WISHES – PUMPKIN PANCAKES

(4) BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN- GUINEA FOWL

[[Today's curly head]]

AARON JOHNSON